Rabbit & Hare hunting in Australia
Oryctolagus cuniculus / Lepus europaeus
The classic Australian starter hunt
Generations of Australian hunters started on rabbits, and they remain the perfect introduction to hunting: plentiful, superb eating, and genuinely damaging pests that landholders want controlled. A warren-riddled creek flat, a .22 rifle and a quiet evening is a timeless combination.
Rabbits reward accurate shooting and quiet movement, and they teach new hunters everything that matters: safe firearm handling in the field, reading wind and cover, judging distance and shot selection. Hares, larger and warier, stretch those skills further across open paddocks.
Rabbit-rich properties are ideal for families and new licence holders, and they keep every member of a mixed group busy while the deer hunters work the dawn shift. Many listings on this site are genuinely family friendly for exactly this reason.
Where to hunt rabbits
Creek flats, warren country and improved pasture across NSW, Victoria, SA, Tasmania and southern WA. Anywhere south of the tropics with sandy rises and green feed can carry rabbits.
When to go
Year round, with no closed season or bag limit anywhere. Late afternoon into evening sees rabbits out feeding, and winter numbers are the most predictable to pattern.
Methods & gear
Walked-up shooting with a .22 rimfire or shotgun, ambushing warren systems at dusk, and spotlighting where the host permits. A suppressed .22 and patience will fill an esky without disturbing a property.
Best regions for rabbits
Rabbit & Hare hunting: common questions
Is rabbit hunting good for beginners?
It is the classic Australian starting point. Rabbits are plentiful, the stakes are low, the meat is excellent, and the skills transfer directly to bigger game. A family property stay with an evening on the warrens teaches more real fieldcraft than a year at the range.
Do I need a licence to shoot rabbits?
No hunting licence is needed for rabbits or hares anywhere in Australia. On private land you need the landholder's permission and a current firearms licence for the firearm you use.
Are rabbits good to eat?
Wild rabbit is lean, mild and versatile, and it fed generations of rural Australians. Young rabbits roast and casserole beautifully, and taking meat home is half the point of an evening on the warrens.
Properties with rabbits
No listed properties for rabbits yet
Landholders with rabbits on their country can list free and keep 85% of every booking.
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